Tips and tricks to find the best camera angle for your shots

When it comes to photography, there is no one formula but you can take small steps to ensure your insight is reflected in your photograph. Our eyes are tuned to look at the highlights and one way to ensure that highlights pop in your photograph is by having a welcoming area in a frame for the viewer to enter. A lot often we look at our vantage point but with clever camera angles, you can bring the viewer into this vantage point as well.

For this to happen, you don’t need to travel around the world or spend thousands on high-end lenses. All you need to do is experiment with your camera elements including the camera angle to get the best shots. By just standing and pointing the camera straight, you won’t be able to get the best results.

One of the first things to do is get out of the habit of the straight-ahead angle. By undoing this habit, you can add a new dimension to your photography. Now, which angle is best depends on your subject and the type of photography that you are doing, but here are some tips and tricks to find the best camera angle for your shots.

Best camera angle: How to find your angles

Every photographer has a good angle and a bad angle and one of the ways you can find your good angle is by doing some reflection. The easiest way to find your good camera angle is by getting in front of a camera and shooting at different angles to find the one that best suits your style.

One of the ways you can frame your angles and find the angle that suits your style is by using a smartphone. With your subject in the frame, you can slowly change directions and angles to see how it reads on camera. You can try turning your head slowly from one side to another in each direction or tilt it from side to side.

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One of the common phrases you must have heard a photographer say is “Chin up” but the best way to get that perfect angle of your face is by slowly moving your chin up and down and seeing which angle makes for an interesting picture. Now that you have done some reflection, here’s an exercise you can try to nail that perfect camera angle.

1. Take out your camera and find a subject.

2. Stand in front of your subject and take one photo by holding your camera at eye level.

3. Now, photograph the same subject from as many different angles as possible without moving your feet.

After you are done capturing images at different angles, count the number of images that you have taken. This exercise is a clever way to understand the infinite number of angles available to capture the same subject.

Best angles for photography

Now that you have understood the best methods to find your camera angles, here are the best angles for photography that you should try.

Best angles for pictures

1. The full-on: The full-on face angle is one where your head is directed at the camera and your eyes look forward. This angle creates an intimate moment with the viewer and has a welcoming appeal to it.

2. Three-quarter: The three-quarter angle is one of the best ways to add both connection and depth in your photography. To achieve this, you need to position your subject at a slight angle to the camera. If you are shooting a person then ensure that they are positioned with relaxed arms and shoulders.

3. Side piece: This is the profile shot that you must have seen on billboards and even magazine covers. It is a polished look that showcases the slope of a subject’s forehead, nose, and chin.

4. Lowered look: You can add drama to your otherwise straightforward picture with a style common among fashion photographers. It requires your subject to try angling their face downward and it radiates the rest of the imagery.

Best angles for portraits

There are three main angles used for portrait photography. While you can experiment or even mix these angles, these portrait angles ensure that your subjects shine.

1. Head-on, facing the camera: This is the classic portrait shot where your face is angled toward the camera. This portrait angle is best when you want your subject’s look and personality to shine.

2. Leaning in: This is an effortless way to bring fun to your portrait angles. You can ask your portrait subject to lean towards the camera slightly in a way that adds familiarity and comfort. The result is one where you don’t necessarily seem to have appeared for a portrait but more like in a conversation with a friend.

3. Over the shoulder: We often tend to take portrait shots with the head-on angle but over the shoulder can add a sense of mystery. It is edgy and can immediately pull in likes on Instagram.

Five must-know camera angles for best shots

In addition to trying the above-mentioned camera angles, there are five angles that you can commit to memory. These angles will allow you to bring a different insight to your photograph and when done well, they will elevate the quality of your photograph.

1. Bird’s eye view: The idea of bird’s eye view is to get high above your subject and then shoot directly downward. This view creates an image that shows your subject from the top, hence the term bird’s eye view. It adds a whole new perspective to how people look at your photos but this particular view is difficult to pull off.

2. The high angle: The high angle, as the name implies, is all about a different elevation than a bird’s eye view. Here, you don’t need to get high above your subject but get a reasonable elevation so your lens is pointing downward at around 45 degrees. You can pull this angle by standing up or raising your camera above your head. If you are taking photos of kids then this angle will add vibrancy and authenticity to your photos.

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3. The low angle: This angle is the opposite of the high angle where you need to get below the subject’s eye level and shoot upward. This angle is a smart way to make your subject appear larger and make the scene look big.

4. Face to face: When you are taking photos at your subject’s eye level, it is called face-to-face angle. This angle allows your viewer to engage with your subject directly and creates a connection. It is the most used angle for portraits and is also popular in nature photography.

5. Bug’s eye view: If you have seen that photograph of an airplane flying as seen from the ground, it is a classic example of a bug’s eye view. This angle works by you getting down as low as you can and looking straight up towards your subject. This angle is interesting if you are looking to shoot an architecture like Jaipur’s Hawa Mahal.

The above steps are a gateway to your understanding of the best camera angles for your photography. The best way to find your good angle and improve is by learning these angles and then putting them into practice. As you click pictures using angles and experiment with them, you will not only get better at finding that right angle but also excel at telling the story.